In spite of the suspension placed on the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, some leaders in the party said the chairman was not suspended or sacked, saying Kekemeke remains the authentic party chairman.

Kekemeke was purportedly suspended by a three-man disciplinary committee of the party over alleged “gross misconduct and anti-party activities.”

The leaders, who were aggrieved following the outcome of the primary of the party in 2016, held a meeting with Kekemeke on Tuesday in Akure, and said the party had granted unconditional amnesty to the all aggrieved members who worked for another party in the last governorship election.

Some of the aggrieved leaders of the party at the meeting include Senator Ajayi Boroffice, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Bamidele Baderinwa; and Osun State Commissioner for Regional Integration, Mr. Bola Ilori, among others.

Speaking at the meeting, Kekemeke called on all the major aspirants in the last primary of the party to close ranks in the interest of the party.

He also urged them to support President Muhammad Buhari-led Federal Government and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration in Ondo State.

He said, “We are very conscious of the need to deliver more votes to President Buhari more than we did in 2015.

“Although we thank God that we still won the 2016 governorship election, the huge reduction in the votes scored by APC in the election has taught us the need to bring everybody on board for the good of APC in Ondo State.

“Therefore, all members that left the party in annoyance or became less active in the party because of the fallout of the last gubernatorial election are hereby invited to return home to their party and are hereby granted unconditional amnesty with full rights and privileges as obtained before their brief departure.

“We are specifically calling on Senator Borroffice, Dr. Segun Abraham and Chief Olusola Oke to come out strong for APC henceforth; our disagreements are now in the past and it is our collective duty to build a vibrant party.”

Senator Ajayi Boroffice, who also spoke at the meeting said, “I can assure that this meeting we started will go a long way in helping the party in its future endeavours.

“We also repose confidence in Kekemeke-led executive committee and I’m not aware of any other chairman.”

In his own remarks, Ilori advised members to forget the past and mobilise members even from the grassroots.

However, the Acting Chairman of the party, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, said the meeting held by the leaders was illegal, saying Kekemeke remained on suspension.

He said, “Any meeting held outside the party secretariat is illegal and I want to say that they have no power to give amnesty to anybody.

“Can sinners forgive sinners? It is not possible. Ilori is not a member of Ondo APC and the party is unaware of what they have done.”